Exercising device



July 26, 1955 s. JORDAN 2,714,007

' EXERCISING DEVICE Filed Aug. 10. 1951 United States This invention relates to exercising appliances, and more particularly to an improved device for developing the muscles of the legs, arms, neck, shoulders, and other parts of the body.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved exercising device which is simple in construction, which is compact in size, and which provides a means of developing the leg muscles, arm muscles, muscles of the neck, shoulders, and other parts of the users body.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved exercising device which is inexpensive to manufacture, which involves only a few parts and which is rugged in construction.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claim, and from the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a top plan view of an improved exercising device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, partly in cross section, of the exercising device of Figure l, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 3-4) of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the exercising device is designated generally at 11 and comprises a hemispherical base 12 provided on its flat bottom surface 13 with a plurality of supporting legs 14. Rigidly .secured in the crown portion of the base 12 is a vertical upstanding post member 15 formed at its top end with an integral bearing ball 16. Designated at 17 is a treadle bar of suitable rigid material which is pivotally mounted for universal rotational movement on the bearing ball 16, the pivotal connection of the bar 17 being provided by a bearing unit 18 secured in the mid portion of the bar 17. The bearing unit 18 comprises an outer race 19 and an inner race 29 rotatably supported with respect to the outer race 19 by a plurality of ball bearings 21, as shown in Figure 3. Secured in the inner race 29 is a socket 22 rotatably engaged on the ball element 16. The bearing unit 18 is retained in the bar 17 by an apertured retaining plate 23 secured to the bottom surface of the bar 17, as shown in Figure 3. The retaining plate 23 is suitably formed to support the socket 22 as well as the respective race members 19 and 20.

The bar 17 is recessed at the top portions of its ends to define foot-receiving spaces, and the recessed spaces are provided with pads of resilient deformable material, shown at 24. The pads 24 may, for example, be of rubber or similar elastic material. Secured to the lower atent corners of the ends of the bar 17 are respective cushioning members 25', 25 of rubber or other suitable deformable resilient material. The cushioning element 25, 25 serves to cushion the impact of the lower corners of the ends of the bar 17 when said lower corners strike the floor as the bar 17 is oscillated.

In using the device, the person may place his feet on the respective pad elements 24, 24 while supporting his body with his hands in any suitable manner and treads alternately with his feet, whereby his foot and leg muscles are alternately flexed, providing an action similar to swimming or running. The bar 17 is free to swivel around the ball 16 as well as to oscillate vertically because of the universal pivotal connection of said bar to the upstanding post element 15. Alternatively, the user may recline on the ground and grasp the ends of the bar 17 with his hands and alternately rock the bar with either hand while supporting himself with the other hand, whereby the muscles of his arms, shoulders, neck, and other portions of the body will be alternately flexed as in exercises such as swimming and the like. Various other positions of the user may be assumed during the use of the exercising device.

The cushioning element 25, 25 prevents damage to the floor or adjacent articles of furniture as the bar 17 is oscillated, since impact of the ends of the bar will be cushioned by the cushioning element 2:3, 25.

While a specific form of the exercising device has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In an exercising device, a substantially hemispherical base disposed to rest with its flat side on a supporting surface, a post projecting upwardly from the rounded top of the base and secured rigidly thereto, a bearing ball on the upper end of the post formed integrally therewith, a treadle bar of a length for the outer ends thereof to extend outwardly past the vertically projected confines of the base and for the lower surfaces of said outer ends to engage the supporting surface without engaging the base, there being a socket on the underside of said treadle bar at the longitudinal mid-point thereof in which said ball fits thereby supporting the treadle bar for universal rotation about the ball, inwardly sloping flat surfaces on the upper surfaces of the treadle bar at the ends thereof disposed to receive the feet of a person using the device, and pads of resilient material secured under the outer ends of the treadle bar and disposed to cushion the engagement of the ends of the treadle bar with the supporting surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 273,530 Hill Mar. 6, 1883 478,166 Madsen July 5, 1892 666,992 Wright Ian. 29, 1901 1,509,793 Thompson Sept. 23, 1924 1,565,484 McWhirter Dec. 15, 1925 2,253,996 Bechman Aug. 26, 1941 

